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Already ailing Fry’s Electronics is closing for good, citing COVID-19

Already ailing Frys Electronics is closing for good citing COVID19
Fry’s Electronics, the go-to chain for tech tinkerers looking for an obscure part, is closing for good.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fry’s Electronics, the go-to chain for tech tinkerers looking for an obscure part, is closing for good.

The company, perhaps even more well known for outlandish themes at some of its stores, from Aztec to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” said Wednesday in an online posting that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it impossible to continue.

All of its stores ceased operation on Wednesday, Feb. 24 as the shutdown process began.

“After nearly 36 years in business as the one-stop-shop and online resource for high-tech professionals across nine states and 31 stores, Fry’s Electronics, Inc. has made the difficult decision to shut down its operations and close its business permanently as a result of changes in the retail industry and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” the company said.

Early Wednesday, Fry’s official Facebook page had been deactivated, although it still showed up on Google web searches. Fry’s Twitter page was set to private status, which means that the company’s tweets were visible only to followers who were granted permission to see the page.

The company said it is in the process of reaching out to customers with repairs and consignment vendors to help them understand what the closures will mean for them and the proposed next steps.

Customers who have equipment currently being repaired are asked to email customerservice@frys.com to arrange for the return of their equipment.

Customers with items needing repair under a performance service contract should call 800-811-1745.

Burt Flickinger III, managing director for the retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group, said the California-based retailer was positioned to fail.

“Fry’s was competitive for a long time,” he said. “They took good care of their customers, but they got eclipsed by Best Buy, Costco, Target, Walmart — and especially Amazon — as they all expanded into consumer electronics.”

Flickinger said the company also failed to install rooftop solar systems at its stores, which could have offset the rising price of products and employee wages.

“Amazon went 100% solar, and that has allowed them to reduce costs and increase wages,” he said. “Target and Walmart are well on their way to doing the same.”

The company closed a number of its stores in recent years, including the Anaheim location, which was shuttered in March 2020.

Fans immediately took to Twitter to post images and memories, both good and bad.

“Fry’s electronics closing reminds me of the one time I went there and it was completely empty and there was haunting renditions of the Wii shop theme playing over the loudspeakers,” one person posted.

Brianna Wu tweeted a happier memory.

“When I used to live in Palo Alto, going to Fry’s was always a blast,” she said. “It was nerd Disneyland.”

Fry’s was founded in 1985 by John Fry, David Fry, and Randy Fry when they opened the company’s first store in Sunnyvale. The chain was concentrated on the West Coast, but had 31 stores in nine states.

The pandemic has done heavy damage to retailers, but Fry’s was already getting hammered by online competition and a battle between heavy-hitters Best Buy and Amazon.com.

The chain’s online presence appears largely to have been shut down.

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